Breeders’ Cup ‘Win And You’re In’ Races To Prohibit Lasix

As 2021 kicks off with stakes races being run without Lasix at the leading racetracks and Thoroughbred racing events across the country, including the 2021 World Championships, Breeders' Cup is pleased to announce that this year's “Win and You're In” Challenge Series races will be run without Lasix. Additionally, Graded Stakes points for the purpose of selection into a Breeders' Cup World Championships race will only be awarded in Lasix-free graded stakes races.

As an operator of world-class racing with the highest safety and integrity measures in place, these initiatives are in keeping with Breeders' Cup's efforts to lead by example to move towards elimination of race day medications and to better align the industry with the rest of the world. Breeders' Cup welcomes others to join these efforts to bring the U.S. further in line with international standards.

2020 saw a successful year of 2-year-olds running Lasix-free, including on Future Stars Friday at the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland. In addition, the groundbreaking passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), which was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020, has provided a critical framework for the industry going forward. Under HISA, Lasix-free racing will be the general standard as of July 1, 2022.

“Even before HISA was signed into law, running the World Championships Lasix-free was a goal of Breeders' Cup,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. “Extending this standard to all races associated with the Breeders' Cup World Championships will hopefully set an example for other racetracks and stakeholders to embrace forthcoming safety and integrity measures, including the elimination of race day medication, as a new, safer era for our storied sport approaches.”

Aligning Breeders' Cup's year-round “Win and You're In” program with the World Championships by modifying the Field Selection Process and allocation of Challenge Race designations to races that prohibit Lasix further strengthens Breeders' Cup commitment to this effort. The safety of human and equine athletes and the integrity of our sport must always come first, which is why Breeders' Cup, like so many others around the world, supports eliminating Lasix in racing.

The post Breeders’ Cup ‘Win And You’re In’ Races To Prohibit Lasix appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Heads To South Africa This Saturday

A.N. & The Honorable Mrs. G. R. Foster's 5-year-old homebred Belgarion, a winner of his last six races, headlines a field of nine runners entered for Saturday's one-mile L'Ormarins Queen's Plate (G1) at Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town, South Africa. The race winner will earn an automatic berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. One race prior to the Queen's Plate, Mauritzfontein Ltd.'s unbeaten 5-year-old mare Summer Pudding leads the 1 1/8-mile Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1) for a free starting position into the $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

Now in its 14th season, the Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into corresponding races of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held this year at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California on Nov. 5-6.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the pre-entry and entry fees for the winners of Saturday's races, and also will provide a US$40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America, to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25 to receive the rewards.

Belgarion, a bay son of Dynasty, is trained by Justin Snaith, who has three starters in the race. Belgarion's biggest career score was on July 25, 2020 when he won South Africa's most prestigious race, the 1 3/8-mile Vodafone Durban July Stakes (G1) at Greyville by three-quarters of a length. He returned on Dec. 12 in the 7-furlong World Sports Betting Greenpoint Stakes (G2) at Kenilworth. Last of eight runners at the top of the stretch, Belgarion closed with a powerful rush to defeat the favored Rainbow Bridge by a neck. That victory improved Belgarion's record to eight wins in 10 starts, and was his seventh-straight triumph dating back to September 2019. Belgarion will be ridded by Richard Fourie from post six.

Mr. and Mrs. M.L.P. Rattray's 7-year-old gelding Rainbow Bridge, trained by Eric Sands, has had some hard luck in his last two starts. In addition to his close second-place finish in the Greenpoint Stakes, the bay son of Ideal World finished a short head behind Golden Ducat in the 1 1/8-mile World Sports Betting Champions Cup (G1) at Greyville on Aug. 29. His lone victory last year, however, came in the Group 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge at about 1 mile on June 28 at Greyville, defeating Vardy, last year's L'Ormarins Queen's Plate winner. Luke Ferrais will ride Rainbow Bridge out of gate five.

The front-running Cirillo also should be a factor for owner C.J.H. Van Niekerk and trainer Sean Tarry. Hitting the board in his last four starts, Cirillo held the lead in deep stretch in the Greenpoint Stakes before being passed in the final yards by Belgarion and Rainbow Bridge. A 5-year-old bay by Pomodoro, Cirillo last won on March 7, taking the 7-furlong Betting World Hawaii Stakes (G2). Breaking from post four, Cirillo will be ridden by Gavin Larena.

Another starter trained by Snaith is the 2019 L'Oramins Queen's Plate winner Do It Again, owned by Nick Johnson and Bernard Kantor, who will be making his first start since Aug. 29. Ridden by Anton Marcus from post seven, the 6-year-old Twice Over gelding won two more Group 1 races in 2019, taking the Rising Sun Gold Challenge and the Durban July. Do It Again, though, did not win a race last year in five starts. He was sixth in the 2020 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate, and third in both the Hollywood Bets Gold Cup and the Durban July.

Snaith's third starter is longshot Hurricane Harry, who won three races last year, but trailed seven runners last time out in the Cape Mile at Kenilworth on Nov. 7. He will be ridden by Robert Khathi, breaking from post one.

In the Cartier Paddock Stakes, Summer Pudding, trained by Paul Peter, looms large over 11 rivals, having never lost in nine starts. Saturday's race will be her first at Kenilworth as eight of her victories came at Turrfontein and one at Greyville. A 5-year-old bay daughter of Silvano out of Cherry on the Cake by Strike Smartly, Summer Pudding has three Group 1 wins, including her most recent triumph over male rivals by 2 ½ lengths in the 1 1/8-mile World Sports Betting Gauteng Summer Cup at Turffontein on Nov. 28. That was Summer Pudding's first start since July 7, when she captured the 1 1/8-mile Champion Stayer: Out of Your League Pinnacle Stakes over fillies and mares at Turffontein.

Summer Pudding's first Group 1 score came on March 7 in the 1-mile Wilgerbosdrift S A Fillies Classic. After winning the Group 2, 1 ½-mile Wilgerbosdrift S A Oaks at Turffontein on June 6, she got her second Group 1 of the season, defeating Driving Miss Daisy in the 1 1/8-mile Woolavington 2000 at Greyville on June 28. Summer Pudding will be ridden by Warren Kennedy from post 11.

The main danger to Summer Pudding could come from defending champion Queen Supreme. Also owned by Mauritzfontein (Pty) Ltd., Queen Supreme, trained by Mike de Kock, is a 5-year-old chestnut daughter of Exceed and Excel out of the Gone West mare Call Later. Queen Supreme captured last year's Paddock Stakes by 2 ½ lengths over Driving Miss Daisy for her first Group 1 win. Two starts later, she finished third against males in the Hsh Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes (G1) on June 27 at Turrfontein. Off until Nov. 28, she faced open company again in the 1-mile World Sports Bet Ipi Tombe Challenge at Turffontein, finishing second by 1 ¾ lengths. She returned to the winner's circle in her last start, taking the 1-mile Computaform Online Pinnacle Stakes by 4 ½ lengths on Dec. 12. Queen Supreme will be ridden for the first time by Keagan De Melo, from post two.

A.C. Peter's Silvano's Pride, third in last year's race for trainer Justin Snaith, won two races in 2020, including her last start on Dec. 19 when she captured the 1-mile Cape Racing Victress Stakes (G2) at Kenilworth by a half-length. A 5-year-old chestnut daughter of Silvano, Silvano's Pride also won the 6-furlong Tibouchina Stakes (G2) at Greyville on June 28 by 2 ¼ lengths. Robert Khathi has the mount, breaking from post seven.

The Eric Sands-trained Driving Miss Daisy has been off the board since her runner-up finish in the Woolavalington 2000 behind Summer Pudding. A 5-year-old bay daughter of Master of My Fate, Driving Miss Daisy finished sixth last time out in the gavelhouse.com Conditions Plate at Kenilworth on Nov. 21. Driving Miss Daisy breaks from post eight under jockey Morne Winnaar.

The post Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Heads To South Africa This Saturday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Multiple G1 Winner Pinball Wizard Chasing Breeders’ Cup Berth This Saturday In Argentina

Led by multiple Group 1-winning 5-year-old Pinball Wizard and the fast-closing 4-year-old Tetaze, winner of the Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1), a standout field of 13 runners has been entered for Saturday's 1 ½-mile Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini (G1) — South America's most prestigious race — at Hipódromo de San Isidro in Argentina. The winner will receive an automatic berth into the 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held on Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California.

As a part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini to start in the 1 ½-mile Longines Breeders' Cup Turf. Breeders' Cup also will provide a $40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25, 2021 to receive the rewards.

The Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini, which was first run in 1887, is the first Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race of the 2021 season.

Owned by Haras Don Teodoro and trained by Jorge Mayansky Neer, Pinball Wizard won two Group 1 races in October, among his four wins in nine starts on turf. A dark bay son of Orpen out of Pink Pony (ARG) by Pure Prize, Pinball Wizard scored a half-length victory in the 1 ½-mile Gran Premio General San Martin on Oct. 3 at Palermo and improved on that performance on Oct. 31 when he dominated the 1 ½-mile Copa de Oro – Alfredo Lalor at San Isidro, crossing the wire 5 lengths in front in 2:25.34. As he was in his last two wins, Juan Cruz Villagra has the mount on Pinball Wizard, breaking from post seven.

Due to the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic on racing in Argentina, Egalite de 9's Tetaze will be making his first start since his biggest career score in March, when he won the 1 ¼-mile Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1) at San Isidro by 2 lengths over a heavy course. Trained by Roberto Pellegatta, Tetaze, a bay son of Equal Stripes, will try to improve on his fifth-place finish in last year's Carlos Pellegrini. He will be ridden by Gustavo Calvente from post 11.

Haras El Angel de Venecia's 6-year-old Village King, a bay son of Campanologist out of the Pleasant Tap mare Villard, has enjoyed success in both Argentina and in the United States during his 15-race career. Trained by Carly Etchechoury, Village King won three races in Argentina and finished third in the 2017 Carlos Pellegrini. He spent the following two years in the U.S. under the care of trainer Todd Pletcher, making eight starts. He won the Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct in 2018 and finished third in the 2019 Pan American Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

After an eighth-place finish in the Man o' War at Belmont Park in May 2019, Village King was returned to Argentina and was back racing on Oct. 10 of this year, winning the 1 ½-mile Progreso (G2) at San Isidro, going wire-to-wire in an 8-length victory. In his last start, the 1 ½-mile Copa de Oro, he gained the lead into the stretch, but was no match for Pinball Wizard, finishing 5 lengths behind the winner. Village King will be ridden by Brian Enrique from post three.

Trainer Alfredo Gaitan Dassie has saddled five winners of the Carlos Pellegrini. This year he is starting six-time Group stakes winner Emotion Orpen (ARG), who took the Group 1 Dardo Rocha Internacional (G1) at 1 ½ miles by 2 ½ lengths at La Plata on Nov. 19. Owned and bred by Haras Firmamento, Emotion Orpen, who is a 5-year-old son of Orpen out of the Distorted Humor mare Unavailable, also won the 1 3/8-mile Organizacion Sudamericana de Fomento (G3) by 8 lengths at La Plata on Oct. 20. Emotion Orpen will be ridden by Francisco Fernandes Goncalves from post position nine.

Making the leap from listed company to Group 1 competition is Las Canarias's undefeated 4-year-old Rohit Joy. A bay son of Fortify out of Stormy Rose by Bernstein, Rohit Joy made his first start on Sept. 11, and reeled off four consecutive wins at Palermo as the favorite each time for trainer Juan Saldivia. His last win was a 9-length triumph in the 12-furlong Minstrel on Nov. 26. Juan Noriega has the mount, breaking from post eight.

Gaitan Dassie is also saddling the 3-year-old Cool Day, a chestnut son of John F Kennedy, who was a fast-closing second in the Jockey Club (G1) at 1 ¼ miles on Oct. 31 at San Isidro in just his third start. He will be ridden by Eduardo Ortega Pavon from post six.

 

The post Multiple G1 Winner Pinball Wizard Chasing Breeders’ Cup Berth This Saturday In Argentina appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Breeders’ Cup: Godolphin Wins Third Straight John Deere Award For Outstanding Breeder

Strengthened by victories from She's a Julie, Lord North (IRE) and Essential Quality, Godolphin has won its third consecutive John Deere Award, honoring the outstanding breeder of the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships and the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The John Deere Award, presented by Breeders' Cup Limited and NTRA Advantage, emphasizes the contributions of breeders to the Breeders' Cup program. The industry's breeders provide funding for the purses for the World Championships through the annual nominations of foals and stallions.

NTRA Advantage and John Deere will award a John Deere TS Gator Utility Vehicle to Godolphin.

The John Deere award winner is determined by the breeder who received the highest number of first-place finishes in Graded/Group stakes in the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series of 81 stakes races in nine countries, and in the 14 Breeders' Cup World Championships races (13 Grade 1 events and one Grade 2), which was held this year at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. Each Grade/Group 1 win was worth 10 points; Grade/Group 2 wins were worth six points; Grade/Group 3 wins were worth four points; and listed stakes wins were worth two points.

Godolphin-bred runners earned 40 points by winning four Group/Grade 1 races in England and the United States. Godolphin finished 10 points in front of both Coolmore Stud and Northern Farm/Northern Racing, which tied for second place with 30 points each.

Godolphin's run to the title began on June 13 when the 5-year-old mare She's a Julie, a bay daughter of Elusive Quality out of Kydd Gloves by Dubai Millennium (GB), captured the Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park, which was “Win and You're In” for the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Just four days later, the 4-year-old gelding Lord North, a bay son of Dubawi (IRE) out of the Giant's Causeway mare Najoum, gave Godolphin its second victory in the competition when he won the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. The Prince of Wales's Stakes was a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race which earned Lord North a free berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).

In the fall at Keeneland, the 2-year-old colt Essential Quality secured the John Deere title for Godolphin. The striking gray/roan son of Tapit out of Delightful Quality by Elusive Quality took the “Win and You're In” Claiborne Breeders' Futurity on Oct. 3, which earned him an automatic starting position in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. One month later, Essential Quality won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile by three-quarters of a length.

“Godolphin's third consecutive John Deere Award is a true testament to their longtime success among international breeders,” said Dora Delgado, Breeders' Cup Chief Racing Officer and Executive Vice President. “We congratulate His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the entire Godolphin team, and we are grateful to this organization and the continuing commitment from all Thoroughbred breeders around the world who support the Breeders' Cup racing and nomination programs.

“We are also very proud of our partners John Deere and NTRA Advantage for recognizing the importance of the breeding industry with the sponsorship of this award,” added Delgado.

“The Breeders' Cup and John Deere's commitment to International Racing reflects the goals and ambitions of the global Godolphin breeding program to strive to compete at the highest level,” said Jimmy Bell, President, Godolphin USA. “Godolphin is honored to be recognized with this award.”

“John Deere would like to once again congratulate Godolphin on this excellent achievement for the third consecutive year,” said Auston Till, Manager Partner Sales, John Deere Ag & Turf. “We are thrilled to award a John Deere Gator™ Utility Vehicle for this outstanding accomplishment.”

The overall competition for the John Deere Award played out at the sport's highest level, as progeny of Coolmore and Northern Farm/Northern Racing also demonstrated standout performances in their deadlock for the runner-up spot. Coolmore-bred Group 1 winners won three Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races, beginning with Love (IRE), who won the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York on Aug. 20; Magical, who took the Irish Champion Stakes on Sept. 12 at Leopardstown; and Shale (IRE), winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes on Sept. 13 at The Curragh.

Offspring from Northern Farm/Northern Racing also won three Group 1 Breeders' Cup Challenges races, all in Japan. Almond Eye (JPN) won the Victoria Mile on May 17 at Tokyo Racecourse, Gran Alegria (JPN) took the Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo on June 7, and Chrono Genesis (JPN) captured the Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse on June 28.

The post Breeders’ Cup: Godolphin Wins Third Straight John Deere Award For Outstanding Breeder appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights